University of Keele vs Surrey vs Sussex

[Selok]

Above are my DDs choices as she likes the courses there especially Keele as it offers joint degree. She is looking to apply for forensic science and neuroses in Keele, chemistry with forensic investigations in Surrey and neuroscience in Sussex- her stretches are Edinburgh and Cardiff for neuroscience. Anyone know about Keele? Any ideas on what joint/double honours degree? TIA

I actually had a spreadsheet of neuroscience courses and their entry requirements, I will have a look and see if I kept it.

Depends also on her personality and current lifestyle not just the academic side - I went to Keele for a medical based course and loved it, the practical side was amazing. I chose it over Birmingham and Bristol as its pretty small, campus based and has a village feel which was great for me - felt very nurturing and supportive. Those who didn’t settle as well wanted more nightlife/city scene and I can imagine the Keele ‘bubble’ could be too small for some perhaps. Go and visit the top few options and hopefully she will get a feel for which place is best fit for her.

This is what we found for 2022 entry, standard offers of ABB or lower - might be missing places that require chemistry A level:

ABB
Exeter
Keele
Queen Mary
Sussex (offered DS BBB if firmed and have been in clearing recently so might be even more generous than that)
Warwick (if doing 2 sciences)

BBB
Aston
Middlesex
Westminster
UCLAN

I think it would be ok to have one at AAB if she thinks that might be doable, that would add Leeds, Nottingham, Cardiff, Leicester, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Again recommend Aston, I think the course there is really good and so are their links with employers.

I'm biased- but keele really would be my top pick, lovely campus, lovely staff the rent in that area is also very affordable

I've studied (and now teach at) a few different unis. I LOVED my time as a student at Keele. It is a very, very special place with an incredible student community . I'd recommend it in a heartbeat

Keele's neuroscience degree is one of the few at that entry requirement which is accredited, I'm not sure how much that matters though..

I went to Sussex a v.long time ago when Brighton was properly cool and loved it. No idea what it's like now. I now live near Guildford and always think it must a bit of a dull place to be student as it's more family orientated and there's not much going on (although London is very accessible if you can afford it!).

Surrey grad here, would recommend. Loved it. Definitely not a dull place for students.

Doesn’t look like your DD can go wrong.

Thank you so much everyone, you may not know how valuable your comments and suggestions are to me right now so from the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU so much. She is doing Chemistry Biology and Psychology - not considered Warwick so far I will chat to my DD so looks like it can be a good option too! I will keep you posted with our Keele experience tomorrow!

I went to Keele many years ago now, loved doing a joint honours course and have got more than one research job precisely because of the joint honours and the supervisors I worked with whilst there.

I met DH there, a number of our DCs' godparents are Keele graduates and the friends I made there are some of my closest even though we graduated over 20 years ago. I know Keele graduates who are teachers, musicians, programmers, librarians, priests, hot shot lawyers, financiers, palaeontologists, work for MI5, are physios, conductors, work in the Foreign Office, are barristers, politicians, nurses and in all sorts of professions. If your DD likes Keele when she visits and it does the course she's interested in then I would encourage her to be driven by that rather than the prestige of RG universities.

I got into Keele via clearing and had never visited before moving up to start my course so had no idea what to expect. The campus was beautiful and although it's changed since I went, I think it's still the only university in a village!

Hi,

I went to Keele and then onto Cardiff for MSc. I absolutely loved Keele and I am in daily contact with friends I made there. It does have a Keele bubble but I loved that. Trotting off in PJs to the campus shop and having tea and toast in the chapel after a night out. I have very fond memories. I also enjoyed Cardiff but Keele was most suitable for my first degree as it was so safe and nurturing. I think going with her gut is not a bad thing to do. Sometimes a place just feels right or not.

Hello all, so we have been to the open day at Keele yesterday. My DD didn't have the feel for the campus, first impressions she didn't like it then we joined the subject talk- the tutor talked about herself, what she done, which countries she travelled but not much deeper insight into what the specific course would offer them etc. She mentioned on the dual degrees and said she wouldn't recommend it, as the employers would want to see specific experience in the chosen field not half one subject and half the other- with dual degrees you can miss out a big chunk of great modules you would have in the single honors- so this was another let down on that note- one of the reasons Keele was her first choice but turns out it is not a great idea. One positive note my DH and I were not thinking so highly on forensic science degree but seeing in depth the amount of hard science involved, we are convinced it is a great applied science degree. All in all, Keele is off the list. I am glad we went, now on to Surrey, Sussex, Warwick - DD is now also considering Kent's forensic science degree

That’s why it’s so important to go and visit and go with your gut - like schools it isn’t one size fits all. Good luck with the hunt and I’m sure wherever she goes University will be a great experience.

@sunstoked thanks, absolutely I am so glad we went. I think Keele offers a great variety of subjects and flexibility- you can even move between courses after second term, on second year- last year etc it is great to have so many options. I also felt they are providing a nurturing environment for students which is really great, however for us, the tutor didn't look so prepared, the presentation slide wasn't great, and she didn't like the campus. Not sure what she was expecting, will see now next is Edinburgh fingers crossed

Keele is very close to Newcastle-under-Lyne and Stoke-on-Trent. Deprived area.
The campus is nice.
Guildford is much nicer as an area.
I'd pick Edinburgh and Cardiff before them.
I don't know about the course itself.

My DD is in her 3rd year at Keele studying Forensic Science and has loved it there. She was offered all 5 uni she applied to inc RG but Keele was her favourite

Sussex is a brilliant uni, lovely campus and obviously Brighton is a great place to be a student. I loved it so much I stayed and got a masters afterwards.

@ScarletWitchM
Which RGs do forensic science if you don't mind saving me the time to check them all out - this is something my DD is thinking about
Thanks

@Bovrilly as far as I researched, no RG universities offering forensic science. Surrey is Chemistry with Forensic investigations. My ex-manager's daughter went to Kent studied forensic science she spoke highly of the course, so this is on our list to visit in November. University of Strathclyde is offering integrated MSc forensic science, my DD likes the modules might do virtual day. For some reason not many universities offer this course and I was checking in studentroom - very mixed comments there about this course as well. But as far as we have seen, it is a solid science degree and should be well respected

Thanks @Selok I assumed that RG unis wouldn't offer it so was interested to know which ones @ScarletWitchM had found. I think Dundee is also good for forensic science, but not done much looking yet as DD is only Y12 and changes her mind quite frequently!

@ScarletWitchM yes I would also want to know as I might be missing some I am sure

personally I have loads of friends that went to Sussex and had a great social life but never did much after!! Maybe Brighton was too sociable?!
my DD has moved from central London to Keele and loves the change. She turned down Kent as the course was too mathematically focussed.
Keele has a very good student satisfactory score and my DD has transitioned well into the uni there.

her flat mates are studying as Radiographers / Vets / Astrophysicists so it’s very science led. Sir David Attenborough has sponsored one of the units there!

feel free to DM if you want more feedback! As I say my DD went to Keele and loves it

@ScarletWitchM thank you so much. I can't really tell what put her off, she was so excited to go and see and explore! I think it was the neuroscience talk maybe after that she was a bit quiet and said she put Keele at the bottom of her list and by the time we were leaving she said she took off the list. Not sure what she was expecting from a campus university! We have been to Kings College last year she didn't like city university- I can understand that as is very much open to public of course being next to the hospital and of course she would have commuted if she chose any London uni she wants to be more independent

Sorry to hear Keele didnt live up to hopes, good decision though to drop it off her list based on her experience - and thats what open days are for after all!

Hopefully she'll really gel with the next one 🤞